Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has come a long way in terms of his maturation since entering the league back in 2013. He’s become one of the most dependable players on offense, simultaneously strengthening his commitment to the Kansas City community through his 87 & Running foundation.
Fans learned yesterday that Kelce had been selected by the team as their nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognizing excellence and achievement on and off the field. It came as no surprise to Chiefs HC Andy Reid that Kelce had been selected to become the team’s nominee.
“I’ve had a chance to be here and watch him grow as some of you have,” Reid said of Kelce on Friday. “Just to see where he’s at now, the whole center that he’s working on right now is a beautiful thing for our community and for kids. I’m proud as heck of him. He does such good work in the community— like he does on the field. He’s got a good heart, man. A big heart.”
A total of five Chiefs players have been selected to receive the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award since its inception in 1970, back when it was merely the NFL Man of the Year Award. Among the most recent winners include Brian Waters (2009) and Will Shields (2003). On Friday, Kelce reacted to the news of his nomination, knowing that his name could soon be mentioned among those players.
“Man, I’ve been trying to fill a lot of shoes here in Kansas City, and one of them is all the unbelievable athletes that were before me, that made this community feel loved,” Kelce said. “[They] made this community feel appreciated knowing how much energy and how much love they bring on Sundays or Mondays or Tuesdays, whatever it is. Now, whenever we play a game, the Kingdom is always there and they’re always screaming their lungs out and we always have their support. So, getting in this community, showing that we love them too and we appreciate what they do and that we’re here to help and lend a helping hand when we can, that’s everything and that’s what the Chiefs stand for. You’ve seen it. It’s not just one guy here and there, it’s every single year you see everybody in this building trying to get back into this community.”
After the league announced the nominees on Thursday, Kelce took to Twitter to share his mindset.
If I leave Kansas City and all I’m known for is what I’ve done on the field then I haven’t really done anything. It’s that simple. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/MHonquWwSq
— Travis Kelce (@tkelce) December 11, 2020
Kelce elaborated on his stance on Friday, showing exactly just how far he’s come as a player and a person.
“Football is just a game,” Kelce said. “We’re talking about life and to be able to help somebody have a better future, being able to lend a helping hand so somebody has a better situation, that’s making a difference. I mean, granted, I can put a smile on somebody’s face by doing a touchdown dance on Sundays, but being able to actually help somebody in their situation in life and either like I said, help them do better for themselves or get help for them. That’s everything for me and to be able to be in a situation like I am playing for the Chiefs, being a professional athlete and having the influence I have, I feel like it’s a duty of mine to make sure that I’m helping out as much as I can, knowing that it’s a responsibility.”
Kelce knows that he has influence and that the way he carries himself on the football field and within the community can lead to meaningful change. He knows that his lasting legacy goes beyond what he accomplishes at Arrowhead Stadium. He also knows that he wants to be remembered for more than his performance on the field.
To be nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, well, Kelce seems to believe it’s a reflection of the way he grew up. It shows the positive impact that a community filled with love and compassion can have. It only makes sense that he’s doing the best he can to recreate that for his new home and perhaps influence the next generation.
“What that means to me is that my family, my parents, my community that I grew up in gave me the understanding that if someone needs a lending hand, you do that and you lend a hand for them if you have the ability to,” Kelce said. “It’s just, being prideful of who I am and knowing that I can put a smile on someone’s face by doing that.”
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